Reviewed by Abrita Kuthumi and Brad Manker
Review Source: Teaching for Change
Book Author: Meenal Patel
Every day after school, Priya and her grandmother, Babi Ba, make rotli (flatbread). Every day, Priya asks, “What is India like?”and Babi Ba describes the smells, sights, and tastes of her beloved homeland. One winter, Priya notices her grandmother gazing at the cold, dead garden. She decides to make marigolds out of paper to cheer up Babi Ba. She enlists the help of her classmates and shares what she has learned about India with them. Babi Ba is pleased with the surprise. She says, “Sharing India with others is the very best way to carry it with you.” Meenal Patel’s second picture book is a lovely intergenerational story about the importance of pride in one’s heritage.
Patel’s charming illustrations are lovingly drawn with a deep respect for her culture. The onomatopoeic language showcases the beauty and diversity of modern India. Warm, earthy tones depict a colorful Indian society and marigold garlands drape the pages. According to her website, Patel says that her art “is rooted in reflections on the power of feeling seen and the journey to feel at home with all facets of ourselves.” As a child, the author chose to hide her heritage, but as an adult, accepts that facet of her identity. The author wrote this story to inspire readers to be curious about other cultures and to embrace the various characteristics that make them unique. This book may be paired with the more general, but equally evocative, The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson.
The front and endnotes describe “a house on a small street in a small town in a small city in the United States” and contrast it with a similar home in India. This delightful poem explains to young readers how customs may be unique in one place but commonplace in another. Additionally, she provides an illustrated dictionary with meanings, definitions, and pronunciations of words that may be unfamiliar to some readers.
Abrita Kuthumi interned as a Truman Institute Scholar at Teaching for Change in summer 2021.
Brad Manker serves as a fellow with Teaching for Change. He is an educator, curriculum designer, and independent researcher with a background in elementary education.
Find more recommended titles about this topic on our Muslims and South Asian booklists.
Priya Dreams of Marigolds & Masala by Meenal Patel
Published by Beaver's Pond Press on July 19, 2024
Genres: Asian American, Muslim, South Asian
Pages: 36
Reading Level: Grade K
ISBN: 9781643439556
Review Source: Teaching for Change
Publisher's Synopsis: Priya lives in the United States and her family is from India. She feels the magic of the place her family comes from through her Babi Ba's colorful descriptions of India — from the warm smell of spices to the swish-swish sound of a rustling sari. Together, Priya, and Babi Ba make their heritage live on through the traditions that they infuse into their everyday lives. — Provided by publisher.
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